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February 11, 2010

NASA Sets Media Credentials Deadlines For Next Space Shuttle Flight

by Sam Savage

NASA has set media accreditation deadlines for the March space shuttle flight to the International Space Station. Shuttle Discovery and seven crew members are targeted to launch the STS-131 mission on March 18 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Deadlines for international journalists to apply for the shuttle rollout and Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test are as early as 5 p.m. EST Feb. 11.

During the 13-day flight, the crew will deliver a multipurpose logistics module with science racks to the space station. Among the shuttle crew is Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, a former high school science teacher who is now a fully trained astronaut.

Reporters must apply for credentials to attend the launch or cover the mission from other NASA centers. To be accredited, reporters must work for verifiable news-gathering organizations. No substitutions of credentials are allowed at any NASA facility.

Additional time may be required to process accreditation requests by journalists from certain designated countries. Designated countries include those with which the United States has no diplomatic relations, countries on the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism, those under U.S. sanction or embargo, and countries associated with proliferation concerns. Please contact the accrediting NASA center for details. Journalists should confirm they have been accredited before they travel.

Reporters must use work e-mail addresses, not personal accounts, when applying. After accreditation is approved, applicants will receive confirmation via e-mail.

Accredited media representatives with mission badges will have access to Kennedy from launch through the end of the mission. The application deadline for mission badges is March 8 for all reporters requesting credentials.

Discovery's move from the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, to Launch Pad 39A, planned for Feb. 19, follows its rollover from Orbiter Processing Facility-3 to the VAB, which is targeted for Feb. 12. Launch dress rehearsal activities, known as the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, and related training are scheduled for Feb. 22-24. International journalists must apply by 5 p.m. EST Feb. 11 to allow time for processing, and U.S. media representatives must apply by Feb. 17. Media badges will be valid for both rollout and the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test.

Reporters with special logistic requests for Kennedy, such as space for satellite trucks, trailers, electrical connections or work space, must contact Laurel Lichtenberger by March 11 at: [email protected]

There is no longer free wireless Internet access provided at Kennedy's news center. Work space in the news center and the news center annex is provided on a first-come basis, limited to one space per organization. To set up temporary telephone, fax, ISDN or network lines, media representatives must make arrangements with BellSouth at 800-213-4988. Reporters must have an assigned seat in the Kennedy newsroom prior to setting up lines. To obtain an assigned seat, contact Patricia Christian at: [email protected]

Journalists must have a public affairs escort to all other areas of Kennedy except the Launch Complex 39 cafeteria.

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

Reporters may obtain credentials for NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston by calling the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 or by presenting STS-131 mission credentials from Kennedy. Media representatives planning to cover the mission only from Johnson need to apply for credentials only at Johnson. The application deadline for mission badges is March 9 for all reporters requesting credentials.

Journalists covering the mission from Johnson using Kennedy credentials must contact the Johnson newsroom by March 9 to arrange workspace, phone lines and other logistics. Johnson is responsible for credentialing media if the shuttle lands at NASA's White Sands Space Harbor, N.M. If a landing is imminent at White Sands, Johnson will arrange credentials.

DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER

Notice for a space shuttle landing at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards Air Force Base in California could be short. Domestic media outlets should consider accrediting Los Angeles-based personnel who could travel quickly to Dryden. Deadlines for submitting Dryden accreditation requests are Feb. 19 for non-U.S. media, regardless of citizenship, and March 24 for U.S. media who are U.S. citizens or who have permanent residency status.

For Dryden media credentials, U.S. citizens representing domestic media outlets must provide their full name, date of birth, place of birth, media organization, driver's license number with the name of the issuing state, and the last six digits of their social security number.

In addition to the above requirements, foreign media representatives, regardless of citizenship, must provide data including their citizenship, visa or passport number and its expiration date. Foreign nationals representing either domestic or foreign media who have permanent residency status must provide their alien registration number and expiration date.

Journalists should fax requests for credentials on company letterhead to 661-276-3566 or e-mail requests to: [email protected]

Requests must include a phone number and business e-mail address for follow-up contact. Journalists who previously requested credentials will not need to do so again.